[ Laman Ehwal Semasa ReformIS ]
Date: 07 Aug 1999
Time: 07:22:48
Remote User: -
PM: I have yet to find inspiration to announce polls By Jack Wong SIBU: Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday the people were in election mood but he has yet to find the inspiration to call for elections.
"I haven't got the inspiration to announce the elections yet," the Prime Minister said, without dropping any hints on the election date at the end of his two-day visit to Sarawak.
Dr Mahathir had dissolved Parliament on April 5, 1995, one day after he visited Sarawak. He had then said in Kuching before returning to Kuala Lumpur that he had found the inspiration for the timing of the general election.
NEW SCHOOL . . . Dr Mahathir signing a plaque at the opening of Sekolah Menengah Teknik Betong yesterday. Bernamapic Dr Mahathir, who has covered most of the states in his nationwide tour, said he would visit Siberia and China in the middle of this month and then makan angin.
On his current meet-the-people sessions nationwide, he said he was overwhelmed by the strong response and big turnouts.
He described the big crowd of 40,000 people who met him at the Miri Fan City on Thursday night as simply "fantastic."
He said Malaysians in Sarawak were generally very happy and satisfied with the ruling Barisan Nasional government and he did not see any opposition in the state.
In the last parliamentary polls, Sarawak Barisan delivered 26 of the 27 seats at stake. Nine of the seats were won uncontested on nomination day.
Dr Mahathir said the Barisan was a positive political organisation as it wanted to promote peace and harmony and to get the people to work together to develop the country.
"We did not say nasty things about the opposition. That is negative. We did not want to collaborate with foreigners to destroy the country."
He said the Government had decided not to allow the word "Islam" to be used in any new political party.
"Islam belongs to all Muslims and not any particular group.
"If the word Islam is used (in political parties), this will only confuse Muslims as if others are not Muslims," Dr Mahathir said.
Asked how the past year had been for him, Dr Mahathir said it was "very interesting" as he had learnt about finance and economy and how to deal with rogue currency traders.
"I am managing it quite okay. We are not down yet but they (rogue currency traders) are down and people are cursing them."
Dr Mahathir said all indicators were showing that the country's economy was doing very well.